Lead ethylxanthate, Pb(SSCOCH2CH3)2, is monoclinic with a= 13.267+0.016, b=4"301 +0"015, c= 22.722+ 0.016 A; fl= 109°16'+5'; the space group is P2~/c and Z=4. Through the dithiocarbonic ends the two xanthate groups are bonded with the lead atom, with a bond angle of 98.2°+ 0.9 °. The molecule is not planar, although each xanthate group, ignoring the hydrogen atoms, is almost planar. It does not possess a twofold rotation axis passing through the lead atom and it forms an asymmetric unit in the structure. A geometrical interpretation is given of the asymmetrical molecular structure in terms of the rotations of the molecular segments around Pb-S, C-S and O-S single bonds in the crystalline state. The molecules are bound together through van der Waals forces between double-bonded sulphur atoms and between methyl ends of the alkyl groups.